JP2009255630A - Air passage opening and closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain rise of cost and to miniaturize physique. <P>SOLUTION: This air passage opening and closing device is furnished with a case 11 forming air passages 13a, 15, 35, doors 20, 34 supported free to rotate against the case 11 and to open and close the air passages, sealing surfaces 22, 23, 35 formed on the case 11 and with which plate surfaces of the doors 20, 34 make contact when the doors 20, 34 close the air passages and driving mechanisms 21, 50 to rotate and drive the doors, rotation shafts 20a, 34a of the doors 20, 34 and output shafts 21a, 50a of the driving mechanisms 21, 50 are elastically connected to each other through elastic members 40, 41, 51, 60, the elastic members integrally rotate with the output shafts 21a, 50a and transmit torque to the rotation shafts 20a, 34a when the plate surfaces of the doors 20, 34 are separated from the sealing surfaces, and the elastic members are elastically deformed by force working on the doors 20, 34 from the sealing surfaces when the plate surfaces of the doors 20, 34 make contact with the sealing surfaces. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air passage opening and closing device that opens and closes an air passage with a rotary door, and is suitable for use in a vehicle air conditioner.

  Conventionally, this kind of air passage opening and closing device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this prior art, the air outlet switching door, which is a plate-like rotary door, switches the air passage. When the air outlet switching door closes the air passage, the plate surface of the air outlet switching door is pressed against the sealing surface formed at the peripheral edge of the air passage so as to ensure the sealing performance.

  Further, in this prior art, as a drive mechanism for driving the outlet switching door, a manual operation mechanism or an actuator such as a servo motor to which an operation force is given by a passenger's manual operation is used, and the drive force from this drive mechanism Is transmitted to the outlet switching door via the link mechanism.

  The link mechanism has a first link plate in which a guide groove is formed and a second link plate in which a guide pin is formed, and the second link plate guides in the guide groove of the first link plate. The pin is fitted and slid.

  Part of the guide groove is formed with an idle groove having a shape (for example, an arc shape) such that a driving force is not transmitted to the guide pin. The idle groove portion is provided to absorb variations in stopping accuracy of the drive mechanism by shifting the phase of the door and the phase of the drive mechanism when the door closes the air passage.

  By providing such an idle groove, the influence of the variation in the stopping accuracy of the drive mechanism is eliminated, and the outlet switching door is reliably stopped at the closed position of the air passage, so that the sealing performance is reliably exhibited. ing.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, in an air passage opening and closing device that opens and closes an air passage by winding and sending out a membrane member, a winding drive shaft of the membrane member and a drive device that drives the winding drive shaft An air passage opening and closing device is disclosed in which a tension is always applied to a membrane member by interposing a spring therebetween.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-170063 JP-A-8-300935

  In the prior art of Patent Document 1, since the link mechanism is interposed between the outlet switching door and the door operation mechanism, the size of the air passage opening / closing device is increased. This increase in size is particularly problematic when applied to a vehicle air conditioner with a large mounting space constraint.

  As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to use a highly accurate door operation mechanism. According to this measure, it is possible to reliably stop the air outlet switching door at the closed position of the air passage without using a link mechanism, so that the sealing performance can be reliably exerted. can do.

  However, this measure has a problem in that the use of a highly accurate door operation mechanism causes a significant increase in cost.

  This problem is not limited to an air passage opening / closing device that switches and opens an air passage with a plate-shaped rotary door, but also an air passage opening / closing device that switches and opens an air passage with a non-plate-like rotary door (for example, a rotary door). Will occur in the same way.

  The prior art of Patent Document 2 opens and closes the air passage by winding and sending out the film-like member, and the air passage is opened and closed by a rotary door as in the prior art of Patent Document 1. The fundamental structure is fundamentally different. For this reason, it is difficult to apply the configuration of the prior art of Patent Document 2 as it is to the prior art of Patent Document 1.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to reduce the physique while suppressing an increase in cost.

In order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect of the present invention, a case (11) that forms an air passage (13a, 15, 35);
Doors (20, 34) that are rotatably supported with respect to the case (11) and open and close the air passage;
A sealing surface (22, 23, 35) formed on the case (11), with which the door (20, 34) abuts when the door (20, 34) closes the air passage;
A drive mechanism (21, 50) for rotationally driving the door,
The rotation shafts (20a, 34a) of the doors (20, 34) and the output shafts (21a, 50a) of the drive mechanisms (21, 50) are elastically connected via elastic members (40, 41, 51, 60). Has been
When the door (20, 34) is separated from the sealing surface, the elastic member rotates integrally with the output shaft (21a, 50a) to transmit the rotational force to the rotating shaft (20a, 34a),
When the door (20, 34) comes into contact with the seal surface, the elastic member is elastically deformed by a force acting on the door (20, 34) from the seal surface.

  According to this, when the door (20, 34) comes into contact with the seal surface (22, 23, 35), the rotation shaft (20a, 34a) of the door (20, 34) and the output of the drive mechanism (21, 50). Since the elastic members (40, 41, 51, 60) connecting the shafts (21a, 50a) are elastically deformed, the rotation amount of the door (20, 34) is smaller than the rotation amount of the drive mechanism (21, 50). Become.

  In other words, when the door (20, 34) closes the air passage, the phase of the door (20, 34) and the phase of the drive mechanism (21, 50) are shifted to stop the drive mechanism (21, 50). Variations in accuracy can be absorbed.

  For this reason, the door can be reliably stopped at the closed position of the air passage without using a link mechanism or a high-accuracy door operation mechanism, so that the sealing performance can be surely exhibited. Can be miniaturized.

In the invention according to claim 2, in the air passage opening and closing device according to claim 1, as the air passage, a first air passage (15) that is opened and closed by a portion on one side in the rotational direction of the door (20); A second air passage (13a) that is opened and closed by a portion on the other side in the rotational direction of the door (20),
As the sealing surface, a first sealing surface (22) with which the door (20) abuts when the door (20) closes the first air passage, and a door (20) when the door (20) closes the second air passage ( 20) a second sealing surface (23) against which
The elastic member (40, 41, 60) is elastically deformed by a force acting on the door (20) from the first seal surface (22) when the door (20) contacts the first seal surface (22), and When the door (20) comes into contact with the second seal surface (23), the door (20) is elastically deformed by a force acting on the door (20) from the second seal surface (23).

  Thus, in the air passage opening and closing device that switches between the first and second air passages by the doors (20, 34), the sealing performance is provided both when the first air passage is closed and when the second air passage is closed. Can be demonstrated reliably.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the air passage opening and closing device according to the first or second aspect, the elastic member is a leaf spring (60) that is bent and deformed in the rotation direction of the door (20). . Thereby, since a structure can be simplified, the raise of cost can be suppressed more.

In the invention according to claim 4, in the air passage opening and closing device according to claim 3, the output shaft (21a) has a cylindrical shape,
One of the rotating shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a) is coaxially inserted into the other,
Each of the rotating shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a) is formed with slits (61, 62) into which the leaf spring (60) is inserted in a direction crossing the axial direction.

  According to this, since either one of the rotating shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a) is inserted into the other, the physique is further downsized in the axial direction of the rotating shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a). (See FIG. 7 described later).

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the air passage opening and closing device according to the fourth aspect, the rotary shaft (20a) is coaxially inserted into the output shaft (21a), and the slit ( 62) in the radial direction of the output shaft (21a), the leaf spring (60) is sandwiched at the radially outer portion, and the slit width is separated from the leaf spring (60) at the radially inner portion. Is characterized by changes.

  According to this, since the separation distance between the output shaft (21a) and the rotation shaft (20a) can be reduced while securing the displacement part of the leaf spring (60), the rotation shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a). The physique can be further downsized in the radial direction (see FIG. 8 described later).

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the air passage opening and closing device according to the first or second aspect, the elastic member includes a first coil spring (40) whose tightening direction is directed to one side in the rotational direction of the door (20), The second coil spring (41) is characterized in that the tightening direction faces the other side of the rotation direction of the door (20). Thereby, the dispersion | variation in the stop precision of a drive mechanism (21, 50) can be absorbed effectively.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the air passage opening and closing device according to the sixth aspect, when the plate surface of the door (20) is separated from the sealing surface, the first and second coil springs (40, 41) each rotate integrally with the output shaft (21a, 50a) in a state where it is elastically deformed by a predetermined amount in the tightening direction.

  According to this, when the door (20) is separated from the sealing surface, the spring force of the first and second coil springs (40, 41) acts to pull the door (20) in the opposite directions. To do. For this reason, it can suppress that the door (20) elastically connected with the drive mechanism (21, 50) elastically vibrates.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the air passage opening and closing device according to the seventh aspect, the first and second coil springs (40, 41) are tightened over the entire operating range of the drive mechanism (21, 50). It is used only on the side.

  According to this, compared with the case where the first and second coil springs (40, 41) are used on both the tightening side and the loose side, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the first and second coil springs (40, 41). it can.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each means described in this column and the claim shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioning unit 10 in an indoor unit section of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present embodiment. Further, the up and down arrows and the front and rear arrows in FIG. 1 indicate directions in the vehicle-mounted state of the air conditioning unit 10. FIG. 1 shows a face mode which will be described later.

  The indoor unit portion of the present embodiment is roughly divided into an air conditioning unit 10 in FIG. 1 and a blower unit (not shown) that blows air to the air conditioning unit 10. The air conditioning unit 10 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction inside an instrument panel (not shown) on the front side of the vehicle interior. On the other hand, the blower unit (not shown) is arranged offset from the center part to the passenger seat side in the inside of the instrument panel in the front part of the passenger compartment.

  As is well known, the blower unit is configured by an inside / outside air switching box for switching between outside air (vehicle exterior air) and inside air (vehicle interior air), and a blower that sucks and blows air through the inside / outside air switching box. The This blower drives a known centrifugal multiblade fan (sirocco fan) with an electric motor. The electric motor is operated by a control signal from an air conditioning control device (not shown).

  The air-conditioning unit 10 has a case (air-conditioning case) 11, and an air passage through which air flows into the vehicle interior is formed inside the case 11. The case 11 is formed of a resin (for example, polypropylene) having a certain degree of elasticity and excellent in strength. Furthermore, the vehicle has a dividing surface in the vertical direction of the vehicle at a substantially central portion in the vehicle width direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1).

  This left and right split case accommodates an evaporator 12 forming a cooling heat exchanger, a heater core 13 forming a heating heat exchanger, an air mix door 20 described later, and the like, and a metal spring clip, a screw, and the like Are coupled together by the fastening means.

  An air inlet space 14 is formed at the most vehicle front side portion of the case 11, and air blown by the blower of the blower unit flows into the air inlet space 14. Further, the evaporator 12 is disposed in a substantially vertical direction (substantially vertical) immediately after the air flow downstream of the air inlet space 14.

  As is well known, the evaporator 12 absorbs heat from the air and cools the air when the low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle (not shown) evaporates. A drain outlet (not shown) for draining condensed water (drain water) generated in the evaporator 12 is opened at the bottom of the case 11 located below the evaporator 12.

  A heater core 13 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction (substantially vertical) at a predetermined interval on the air flow downstream side (rear side of the vehicle) of the evaporator 12. The heater core 13 heats cold air by introducing high-temperature engine cooling water (hot water) into the interior and exchanging heat between the hot water and the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12.

  The heater core 13 is also arranged substantially in the vertical direction. In addition, arrange | positioning the evaporator 12 and the heater core 13 in a substantially up-down direction means arrange | positioning so that the surface of the core part for the heat exchange may extend in a substantially up-down direction.

  A first cold air bypass passage 15 and a second cold air bypass passage 16 are formed in the vehicle rear side portion of the evaporator 12 of the case 11 and the upper portion of the heater core 13. In this example, the second cold air bypass passage 16 is disposed above the first cold air bypass passage 15.

  The first cold air bypass passage 15 corresponds to the first air passage (air passage) in the present invention. The inlet air passage 13a of the heater core 13 corresponds to the second air passage (air passage) in the present invention.

  A rear cold air bypass passage 17 is formed in a vehicle rear side portion of the evaporator 12 of the case 11 and a lower side portion of the heater core 13. The first and second cold air bypass passages 15 and 16 and the rear cold air bypass passage 17 constitute a passage through which the cold air having passed through the evaporator 12 flows around the heater core 13.

  A warm air passage 18 is formed on the downstream side of the air flow of the heater core 13. The warm air passage 18 is a passage that guides the warm air that has passed through the heater core 13 to the mixing chamber 19, and has a shape that extends from the lower side toward the upper side.

  The mixing chamber 19 for mixing the cold air that has passed through the first cold air bypass passage 15 and the hot air that has passed through the heater core 13 is disposed on the downstream side of the air flow of the first cold air bypass passage 15 and the hot air passage 18.

  Between the evaporator 12 and the heater core 13, an air mix door 20 serving as a temperature adjusting means is disposed. The air mix door 20 passes through the cold air passing through the first cold air bypass passage 15 and the inlet air passage 13a of the heater core 13 by adjusting the opening degrees of the first cold air bypass passage 15 and the inlet air passage 13a of the heater core 13. Then, the air volume ratio with the cold air heated by the heater core 13 is adjusted. The air mix door 20 corresponds to the door in the present invention.

  The air mix door 20 is a rotary door having a rotary shaft 20a rotatably supported with respect to the case 11 and a resin plate door portion 20b coupled to the rotary shaft 20a. The rotating shaft 20a is disposed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction at the upper portion of the heater core 13, and is rotatably supported by bearing holes (not shown) on the wall surfaces on the left and right sides of the case 11.

  One end of the rotating shaft 20a protrudes outside the case 11 and is connected to the output shaft 21a (FIG. 2) of the electric actuator 21. The electric actuator 21 constitutes a drive mechanism that drives the air mix door 20, and is operated by a control signal of an air conditioning control device (not shown).

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the air mix door 20 is rotated by the electric actuator 21. Of course, a manual system in which the air mix door 20 is directly rotated by the manual operation force of the passenger may be employed. In other words, as a drive mechanism that drives the air mix door 20, a manual operation mechanism that is given an operation force by a manual operation by an occupant may be used.

  A first case-side sealing surface 22 that protrudes toward the first cold air bypass passage 15 is formed integrally with the case 11 at a vehicle rear side portion in the upper portion of the evaporator 12. A second case-side sealing surface 23 that protrudes toward the inlet air passage 13 a of the heater core 13 is formed integrally with the case 11 at a vehicle rear side portion in the lower portion of the evaporator 12.

  Elastic sealing materials 20c and 20d are disposed on the peripheral edge portions of both sides of the plate door portion 20b of the air mix door 20. The elastic seal members 20c and 20d are elastically compressed and deformed between the plate door portion 20b and the case-side seal surfaces 22 and 23 to ensure door sealability.

  In FIG. 1, the solid line position of the air mix door 20 is the maximum cooling position where the inlet air passage 13a of the heater core 13 is fully closed and the first cold air bypass passage 15 is fully opened. The air mix door 20 is located at this maximum cooling position. When the rotation operation is performed, the total amount of the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 flows to the first cold air bypass passage 15 side.

  The position of the two-dot chain line of the air mix door 20 is the maximum heating position where the inlet air passage 13a of the heater core 13 is fully opened and the first cold air bypass passage 15 is fully closed, and the air mix door 20 is rotated to this maximum heating position. Then, the total amount of cold air that has passed through the evaporator 12 passes through the heater core 13 and is heated.

  Then, by rotating the air mix door 20 to an arbitrary intermediate opening position, the air volume ratio between the cold air passing through the first cold air bypass passage 15 and the hot air heated by the heater core 13 and flowing through the hot air passage 18 is increased. Adjusted.

  The mixing chamber 19 is arranged so that cold air that has passed through the first cold air bypass passage 15 and hot air that has passed through the hot air passage 18 can flow into the upper portion of the heater core 13. In the mixing chamber 19, the cold air flowing in from the first cold air bypass passage 15 and the hot air flowing in from the hot air passage 18 are mixed, and the temperature of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior is adjusted. Therefore, the temperature of the conditioned air can be adjusted to a desired temperature by adjusting the opening position of the air mix door 20 described above.

  Next, a defroster opening 24 is disposed in a substantially upper part of the mixing chamber 19 on the upper surface of the case 11. The defroster opening 24 is connected to a defroster outlet (not shown) disposed in the vehicle interior via a defroster duct (not shown), and air-conditioned air (mainly from the defroster outlet toward the inner surface of the vehicle window glass). Hot air) is blown out.

  A face opening 25 is disposed behind the defroster opening 24. The face opening 25 is connected to a face air outlet (not shown) disposed in the vehicle interior via a face duct (not shown), and air-conditioned air flows from the face air outlet toward the upper body side of the front seat occupant. (Mainly cold wind) is blown out.

  A foot opening 26 is disposed at a side portion of the mixing chamber 19 on both side surfaces of the case 11. A foot duct (not shown) that hangs downward is connected to the foot opening 26, and air is blown out from the foot outlet at the lower end of the foot duct to the feet of the front seat occupant.

  A rear face / foot passage 27 is formed at the rear lower portion of the case 11 so as to extend toward the vehicle rear side. The rear face / foot passage 27 is arranged so that cold air that has passed through the second cold air bypass passage 16 and hot air flowing through the hot air passage 18 can flow in.

  A rear face opening 28 and a rear foot opening 29 are opened at the downstream end (rear end) of the rear face / foot passage 27 in the air flow direction. The rear face opening 28 is connected via a rear face duct (not shown) to a rear face air outlet (not shown) disposed on the rear side of the vehicle interior, and the upper body side of the rear seat occupant from the rear face air outlet. Air-conditioned air (mainly cold air) is blown out toward

  The rear foot opening 29 is connected via a rear foot duct (not shown) to a rear foot outlet (not shown) disposed on the rear side of the vehicle interior, from the rear foot outlet toward the foot of the rear seat occupant. Air-conditioned air (mainly warm air) is blown out.

  Next, a defroster door 30 that opens and closes the defroster opening 24 is disposed in the mixing chamber 19. Similar to the air mix door 20, the defroster door 30 is a rotary door configured by connecting a plate door portion to a rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft of the defroster door 30 is a portion of the defroster opening 24 on the front side of the vehicle. It arrange | positions so that it may extend in the vehicle width direction.

  A face door 31 that opens and closes the face opening 25 is disposed below the face opening 25. A foot door 32 for opening and closing the foot opening 26 is disposed on the inner side of the case with respect to the foot opening 26.

  Like the air mix door 20, the face door 31 is a rotary door configured by connecting a plate door portion to a rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft of the face door 31 is a portion of the face opening 25 at the rear side of the vehicle. It arrange | positions so that it may extend in the width direction.

  The foot door 32 is a rotary door configured by connecting a fan-shaped plate door portion to a rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft of the foot door 32 is arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction at a portion below the foot opening 26. Yes. The plate door portion of the foot door 32 is disposed along the side wall surface of the case 11.

  A rear face / foot door 33 that opens and closes the rear face opening 28 and the rear foot opening 29 is disposed downstream of the air flow in the rear face / foot passage 27. The rear face / foot door 33 is a rotary door formed by connecting a rotary shaft to the center of a plate door portion having a cross-sectional shape, and the rotary shaft of the rear face / foot door 33 is composed of a rear face opening 28 and a rear foot. It arrange | positions so that it may extend in the vehicle width direction in the site | part between the opening parts 29. FIG.

  The defroster door 30, the face door 31, the foot door 32, and the rear face / foot door 33 constitute a blowing mode door for switching a blowing mode for blowing the conditioned air into the vehicle interior.

  The rotation axis of the defroster door 30, the rotation axis of the face door 31, the rotation axis of the foot door 32, and the rotation axis of the rear face / foot door 33 can be rotated by bearing holes (not shown) on the left and right wall surfaces of the case 11. One end of each rotating shaft protrudes outside the case 11 and is coupled to an electric actuator (not shown).

  A cold air bypass door 34 is disposed on the vehicle rear side at the upper end of the evaporator 12. When the cold air bypass door 34 opens the second cold air bypass passage 16, the cold air after passing through the evaporator 12 flows toward the face opening 25.

  Similar to the air mix door 20, the cold air bypass door 34 is a rotary door having a rotary shaft 34a rotatably supported with respect to the case 11, and a resin plate door portion 34b coupled to the rotary shaft 34a. is there.

  The rotating shaft 34a of the cold air bypass door 34 is disposed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction at the upper portion of the air mix door 20, and is rotatably supported by bearing holes (not shown) on the left and right side walls of the case 11.

  One end of the rotating shaft 34a of the cold air bypass door 34 protrudes outside the case 11 and is connected to an electric actuator (not shown). This electric actuator is operated by a control signal of the air conditioning control device.

  A case-side sealing surface 35 protruding toward the second cold air bypass passage 16 is formed integrally with the case 11 at a vehicle rear side portion at the uppermost portion of the evaporator 12. An elastic seal material 34c is disposed at the peripheral edge of the plate door portion of the cold air bypass door 34, and the elastic seal material 34c is elastically compressed and deformed between the plate door portion and the case-side seal surface 35 to thereby form a door seal. It is designed to ensure sex.

  A rear air mix door 36 is disposed on the vehicle rear side of the lower end portion of the heater core 13. The rear air mix door 36 passes through the rear cool air bypass passage 17 and adjusts the opening of the rear face foot foot passage 27 at the rear cool air bypass passage 17 side entrance and the hot air passage 18 side entrance. The air volume ratio between the cool air flowing into the passage 27 and the warm air flowing into the rear face / foot passage 27 from the warm air passage 18 is adjusted.

  Similar to the air mix door 20, the rear air mix door 36 is a rotary door having a rotary shaft that is rotatably supported with respect to the case 11 and a resin plate door portion coupled to the rotary shaft.

  The rotating shaft of the rear air mix door 36 is disposed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the heater core 13 and is rotatably supported by bearing holes (not shown) on the left and right wall surfaces of the case 11.

  One end of the rotating shaft of the rear air mix door 36 protrudes outside the case 11 and is connected to an electric actuator (not shown). This electric actuator is operated by a control signal of the air conditioning control device.

  Next, a connection structure between the rotating shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 and the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 will be described with reference to FIG. The rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 and the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 are not rigidly connected but are elastically connected via first and second coil springs 40 and 41 which are elastic members. It is connected to.

  The first and second coil springs 40, 41 are arranged coaxially with each other, and the output shaft 21 a of the electric actuator 21 is inserted into the first and second coil springs 40, 41. , 41 is fixed to the output shaft 21 a of the electric actuator 21. The other end portions of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are fixed to the connection component 42.

  The connecting component 42 has a first hole 42a that opens to one end side and a second hole 42b that opens to the other end side, and the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 is spaced from the first hole 42a. Inserted. One end of the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 is fitted in the second hole 42b of the connection component 42. The connecting component 42 and the rotary shaft 20a are prevented from rotating by fitting with a D hole.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of the operating characteristics (relationship between displacement and spring force) of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41. Note that “right rotation” in FIG. 3 means right rotation when the air mix door 20 is viewed from the electric actuator 21 side (right side in FIG. 2). In FIG. 3, for convenience of illustration, the lines indicating the operating characteristics of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are slightly separated from each other, but actually, the first and second coil springs 40, Lines indicating the operating characteristics of 41 overlap each other.

  The first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are arranged so that the tightening directions are opposite to each other. That is, the tightening direction of the first coil spring 40 faces one side of the rotation direction of the air mix door 20, and the tightening direction of the second coil spring 41 faces the other side of the rotation direction of the air mix door 20.

  In FIG. 3, the set positions of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 indicate the assembled state of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41. The first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are assembled in a state where they are elastically deformed by a predetermined amount in the tightening direction with respect to the natural state to generate a predetermined spring force (F, -F in FIG. 3).

  Therefore, in this assembled state, the spring force of the first coil spring 40 (F in FIG. 3) and the spring force of the second coil spring 41 (-F in FIG. 3) are applied to the air mix door 20 in the door rotation direction. Act in opposite directions. In this example, the spring force of the first coil spring 40 acting in the opposite direction to the spring force of the second coil spring 41 is balanced.

  As described above, the spring force of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 pulls the air mix door 20 in opposite directions to balance each other, so that the air mix door 20 is maintained at the intermediate opening position. .

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the operation position of the air mix door 20 and the spring force of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41. The first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are set to such a hardness that they are not displaced (not twisted) only by the driving force of the electric actuator 21.

  For this reason, the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are not displaced (not twisted) from the assembled state at an intermediate opening position where only the driving force of the electric actuator 21 acts on the first and second coil springs 40 and 41. .

  Therefore, the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 rotate integrally with the output shaft 21 a of the electric actuator 21 at the intermediate opening position where the air mix door 20 is separated from the case-side seal surfaces 22 and 23. Then, the rotational force is transmitted to the rotary shaft 20 a of the air mix door 20. As a result, the rotary shaft 20 a of the air mix door 20 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the output shaft 21 a of the electric actuator 21.

  On the other hand, in the maximum cooling position and the maximum heating position where the plate surface of the air mix door 20 (more specifically, the elastic sealing materials 20c and 20d) contacts the case-side seal surfaces 22 and 23, the case-side seal surfaces 22 and 23 are provided. The first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are displaced (twisted) by the force acting on the air mix door 20 from the rotation of the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 so that the rotation amount of the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 is reduced. It becomes smaller than the rotation amount. In other words, the phase of the air mix door 20 and the phase of the electric actuator 21 are shifted.

  In this example, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the first and second coil springs 40, 41 are used only on the tightening side and not on the loose side over the entire operating range of the electric actuator 21. Further, the operating range of the electric actuator 21 is rotated by a predetermined amount in anticipation of variations in stopping accuracy.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the operating angle of the electric actuator 21 and the operating angle of the air mix door 20. As shown in FIG. 5, even if the stopping accuracy of the electric actuator 21 varies, the air mix door 20 is reliably rotated to the maximum cooling position and the maximum heating position.

  In addition, the air-conditioning control apparatus which controls each electric actuator which rotates the electric motor of a blower unit, the air mix door 20, the blowing mode doors 30-33, the cold air bypass door 34, and the rear air mix door 36 is CPU, ROM, and RAM An air conditioning operation panel which is composed of a well-known microcomputer including a peripheral circuit and its peripheral circuits, receives sensor detection signals from various air conditioning sensor groups (not shown), and is arranged near the instrument panel in the front of the passenger compartment Operation signals are input from various air conditioning operation switches (not shown) provided in (not shown).

  Next, the operation of this embodiment in the above configuration will be described. When an auto switch (not shown) of the air conditioning operation panel is turned on while a start switch (ignition switch) of a vehicle engine (not shown) is turned on, an air conditioner control program stored in the ROM of the air conditioning control device is executed.

  When the air conditioner control program is executed, operation signals on the air conditioning operation panel and detection signals detected by various air conditioning sensor groups are read. And based on these signals, the target ventilation volume of the air blown by the blower, the inside / outside air mode, the blowing mode, the target opening of the air mix door 20, the operation of the compressor, etc. are determined, and the determined control state is Control signals are output to various actuators so as to be obtained.

  Here, the blowing mode is determined with reference to a control map stored in advance in the air conditioning control device, and is sequentially switched to the face mode, the bi-level mode, and the foot mode. Further, when a blow mode switch (not shown) on the air conditioning operation panel is manually operated, the face mode, the bi-level mode, the foot mode, and the foot / diff mode are switched according to the operation signal. Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle air conditioner in each blowing mode will be described.

  First, the face mode is a mode in which conditioned air is blown from the face outlet toward the upper body side of the occupant. In this face mode, the defroster door 30, the face door 31, the foot door 32, and the rear face / foot door 33 are rotated to the solid line position in FIG.

  Thus, the defroster door 30 fully closes the defroster opening 24, the face door 31 fully opens the face opening 25, the foot door 32 fully closes the foot opening 26, and the rear face / foot door 33 opens the rear face opening. 28 and the rear foot opening 29 are fully closed.

  In the face mode, the cold air is mainly blown out from the face outlet, so that the air mixing door 20 is set to the maximum cooling position (solid line position in FIG. 1) and the first cold air bypass passage 15 is fully opened. Of course, the air mix door 20 may be blown out of the face air outlet by mixing the cold air and the hot air in the mixing chamber 19 with the air mix door 20 at the intermediate opening position.

  Next, the bi-level mode is a mode in which conditioned air is blown out from the face air outlet toward the occupant's upper body, and at the same time, conditioned air is blown out from the foot air outlet toward the occupant's feet. In this bi-level mode, the defroster door 30 is rotated to the solid line position in FIG. 1, the defroster opening 24 is fully closed, the face door 31 and the foot door 32 are rotated to the intermediate opening position, and the face opening 25 and Both foot openings 26 are opened to the same extent.

  Further, the rear face / foot door 33 is rotated to an intermediate opening position between the rear face opening 28 and the rear foot opening 29 to open both the rear face opening 28 and the rear foot opening 29 to the same extent.

  In the bi-level mode, the air mix door 20 is positioned at an intermediate opening position in order to blow conditioned air at a temperature according to the passenger's preference from the face outlet, foot outlet, rear face outlet, and rear foot outlet. It becomes.

  At this time, since the cold air bypass door 34 opens the second cold air bypass passage 16, the cold air after passing through the evaporator 12 flows toward the face opening 25, so the temperature of the air blown from the face air outlet is changed from the foot air outlet. The air temperature distribution in the passenger compartment can be realized with a low temperature.

  Further, by adjusting the opening degree of the rear air mix door 36, the temperature of air blown from the rear foot outlet can be adjusted independently of the temperature of air blown from the foot outlet. The adjustment of the temperature of the air blown from the rear foot outlet can be similarly performed in a foot mode and a foot differential mode which will be described later.

  Next, the foot mode is a mode in which conditioned air is blown out mainly from the foot outlet and the rear foot outlet toward the occupant's feet. In this foot mode, the defroster door 30 is rotated to a position where the defroster opening 24 is slightly opened. Further, the face door 31 and the foot door 32 are rotated to the two-dot chain line position in FIG. 1 to fully close the face opening 25 and fully open the foot opening 26.

  Since the foot mode is selected mainly when the outside temperature of the vehicle is low, the defroster door 30 is in a state where the defroster opening 24 is slightly opened in order to prevent fogging of the vehicle window glass. In the present embodiment, the opening degree of the defroster opening 24 is set to about 20% of the fully opened state.

  In the foot mode, the hot air is mainly blown out from the foot outlet and the rear foot outlet, so that the air mix door 20 is set to the maximum heating position (the two-dot chain line position in FIG. 1) and the first cold air bypass passage 15 is entirely opened. Close. Of course, air conditioned air in which cold air and warm air are mixed may be blown out in the mixing chamber 19 at the intermediate opening position.

  Next, the foot / def mode is a mode in which conditioned air is blown simultaneously from the defroster outlet, the foot outlet, and the rear foot outlet toward the vehicle window glass side and the occupant's foot side. In this foot differential mode, the defroster door 30 is rotated to an intermediate opening position, and the face door 31 and the foot door 32 are positions where the face opening 25 is fully closed and the foot opening 26 is fully opened (two points in FIG. 1). It is rotated to the position of the chain line. In the present embodiment, the opening degree of the defroster opening 24 is set to about half the opening degree of the fully opened state.

  Since the foot / def mode is a mode selected by the operation of the occupant, the position of the air mix door 20 is used to blow the conditioned air at a temperature according to the occupant's preference from the defroster outlet, the foot outlet, and the rear foot outlet. Is the intermediate opening position.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 and the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 are elastically connected via the first and second coil springs 40 and 41, and the air mix. The phase of the air mix door 20 and the phase of the electric actuator 21 are shifted from each other at the maximum cooling position and the maximum heating position of the door 20.

  For this reason, variation in the stopping accuracy of the electric actuator 21 can be absorbed and the air mix door 20 can be reliably stopped at the maximum cooling position and the maximum heating position, so that the sealing performance can be reliably exhibited.

  Moreover, at the intermediate opening position of the air mix door 20, the spring force of the first and second coil springs 40, 41 pulls the air mix door 20 in opposite directions to balance each other, so that the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 is balanced. And the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 are securely connected through the first and second coil springs 40 and 41, but the air mix door 20 is reliably maintained at the intermediate opening position. be able to.

  For this reason, for example, in a state where the air mix door 20 is stopped at the intermediate opening position, it is possible to prevent the air mix door 20 from receiving a wind pressure and vibrating.

  Furthermore, since the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are used only on the tightening side and not on the loose side over the entire operating range of the electric actuator 21, the first and second coil springs 40, 41 can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Although the said 1st Embodiment has shown the example which applied this invention to the air mix door 20 sealed on both surfaces of a door, this 2nd Embodiment is this invention to the cold wind bypass door 34 sealed on one side of a door. The example which applied is shown.

  In other words, the air mix door 20 closes the first cold air bypass passage 15 on one plate surface and closes the inlet air passage 13a of the heater core 13 on the other plate surface. On both sides, variations in stopping accuracy of the electric actuator 21 can be absorbed.

  On the other hand, the cold air bypass door 34 closes the second cold air bypass passage 16 on one plate surface and does not close the air passage on the other plate surface. Therefore, in this embodiment, only one side in the door rotation direction is used. In FIG. 4, the variation in stopping accuracy of the electric actuator 50 can be absorbed.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, by connecting the rotating shaft 34 a of the cold air bypass door 34 and the output shaft 50 a of the electric actuator 50 via one coil spring 51, the cold air bypass door 34 is Variations in stopping accuracy of the electric actuator 50 when the second cold air bypass passage 16 is closed can be absorbed. In the present embodiment, the second cold air bypass passage 16 corresponds to the air passage in the present invention.

  As a modification of the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 34a of the cold air bypass door 34 and the output shaft 50a of the electric actuator 50 are connected via two coil springs, and the tightening directions of the two coil springs are opposite to each other. The spring forces of the two coil springs may be balanced.

  According to this modification, as in the first embodiment, the spring force of the two coil springs balances the cold wind bypass door 34 by pulling the cold wind bypass door 34 in opposite directions at the intermediate opening position of the cold wind bypass door 34. The door 34 can be reliably maintained at the intermediate opening position.

(Third embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 are used as elastic members that elastically connect the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 and the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a plate spring 60 is used as the elastic member instead of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41.

  Specifically, the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 is coaxially inserted into the output shaft 21a with a gap between the rotary shaft 20a and the output shaft. Each of 21a is formed with slits 61 and 62 for inserting the leaf spring 60 in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction thereof.

  In this example, a component corresponding to the connection component 42 in the first embodiment is not used, but it is needless to say that a component corresponding to the connection component 42 in the first embodiment may be used.

  In this example, the rotating shaft 20a is coaxially inserted into the output shaft 21a with a gap, but conversely, the output shaft 21a is coaxial with the gap in the rotating shaft 20a. It may be inserted.

  In this example, the direction in which the leaf spring 60 is inserted is perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a. However, the direction is not necessarily perpendicular to the axial direction and intersects the axial direction. It may be the direction to do.

  Further, in this example, the leaf spring 60 penetrates the rotating shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a from one radial direction side to the other radial direction side, but it is not always necessary to penetrate, for example, the rotating shaft from one radial direction side. You may make it fit to the center of 20a.

  In the radial direction of the output shaft 21a, the slit 62 of the output shaft 21a sandwiches the leaf spring 60 at a radially outward portion (a portion opposite to the rotating shaft 20a), and a radially inner portion (the rotating shaft 20a side). 8), the slit width (dimension in the left-right direction in FIG. 8) changes so as to be separated from the leaf spring 60.

  The setting of the hardness of the leaf spring 60 is the same as the setting of the hardness of the first and second coil springs 40 and 41 in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the leaf spring 60 is not displaced (not bent) from the assembled state at the intermediate opening position where only the driving force of the electric actuator 21 acts on the leaf spring 60.

  Thus, at the intermediate opening position of the air mix door 20, the leaf spring 60 rotates integrally with the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21 and transmits the rotational force to the rotation shaft 20a of the air mix door 20. As a result, the rotary shaft 20 a of the air mix door 20 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the output shaft 21 a of the electric actuator 21.

  On the other hand, in the maximum cooling position and the maximum heating position, the leaf spring 60 is displaced (bent) by the force acting on the air mix door 20 from the case-side seal surfaces 22 and 23, and the rotation of the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 is rotated. The amount is smaller than the rotation amount of the output shaft 21 a of the electric actuator 21. In other words, the phase of the air mix door 20 and the phase of the electric actuator 21 are shifted.

  With the above configuration, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, in the present embodiment, since only one leaf spring 60 is used, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with the configuration using two coil springs as in the first embodiment. be able to.

  Further, since the rotary shaft 20a is inserted into the output shaft 21a and the rotary shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a are wrapped in the axial direction, the physique is further downsized in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a. can do.

  Further, the slit 62 of the output shaft 21a sandwiches the leaf spring 60 at the radially outer side in the radial direction of the output shaft 21a, and is separated from the leaf spring 60 at the radially inner side. Compared with the case where the slit 62 entirely sandwiches the leaf spring 60 in the radial direction of the output shaft 21a, the distance between the contact portion of the leaf spring 60 with the rotating shaft 20a and the contact portion with the output shaft 21a. Can be secured greatly.

  For this reason, since the separation distance of the output shaft 21a and the rotating shaft 20a can be made small while ensuring the displacement part of the leaf | plate spring 60, the physique of the radial direction of the connection part of the output shaft 21a and the rotating shaft 20a is made more. It can be downsized.

  In this example, the rotary shaft 20a of the air mix door 20 is inserted into the output shaft 21a of the electric actuator 21, and the rotary shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a are wrapped in the axial direction. The leaf spring 60 may straddle the rotation shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a in the axial direction by separating the rotation shaft 20a and the output shaft 21a in the axial direction.

(Other embodiments)
In the first and second embodiments, coil springs 40, 41, and 51 are used as elastic members that elastically connect the rotary shaft of the door and the output shaft of the electric actuator. In the third embodiment, Although the leaf spring 60 is used as the elastic member, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an elastic body such as rubber can be used as the elastic member.

  Moreover, each said embodiment is only what illustrated the example of application of this invention, and this invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the present invention can be applied not only to the air mix door 20 and the cold air bypass door 34 but also to other doors of the air conditioning unit 10 (inside / outside air switching door, blowing mode door, etc.).

  Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a door that is rotated by an electric actuator, but also to a manually operated door that is directly rotated by an occupant's manual operation force.

  Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a plate-like rotary door but also to a rotary door that is not plate-like (for example, a rotary door).

  Furthermore, for example, the present invention can be widely applied to various air passage opening / closing devices such as an air passage opening / closing device in an air conditioner installed in a house or a building.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the air conditioning unit of the vehicle air conditioner in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection part vicinity of the rotating shaft of an air mix door, and the output shaft of an electric actuator. It is a graph which shows the operating characteristic of a 1st, 2nd coil spring. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the operation position of an air mix door, and the spring force of a 1st, 2nd coil spring. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the operating angle of an electric actuator, and the operating angle of an air mix door. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the connection part of the rotating shaft of the cold wind bypass door and output shaft of an electric actuator in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection part of the rotating shaft of the air mix door in 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and the output shaft of an electric actuator. It is an AA expanded sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

11 Case 20 Air mix door (door)
21 Actuator (drive mechanism)
60 Leaf spring (elastic member)

Claims (8)

A case (11) forming an air passage (13a, 15, 35);
Doors (20, 34) that are rotatably supported with respect to the case (11) and open and close the air passage;
A sealing surface (22, 23, 35) formed on the case (11), with which the door (20, 34) abuts when the door (20, 34) closes the air passage;
A drive mechanism (21, 50) for rotating the door;
The rotation shafts (20a, 34a) of the door (20, 34) and the output shafts (21a, 50a) of the drive mechanism (21, 50) are elastic through elastic members (40, 41, 51, 60). Connected to
When the door (20, 34) is separated from the sealing surface, the elastic member rotates integrally with the output shaft (21a, 50a) to apply a rotational force to the rotating shaft (20a, 34a). Communicate
When the door (20, 34) abuts on the sealing surface, the elastic member is elastically deformed by a force acting on the door (20, 34) from the sealing surface. As the air passage, a first air passage (15) opened and closed by a portion on one side in the rotational direction of the door (20) and a second air passage opened and closed by a portion on the other side in the rotational direction of the door (20). An air passage (13a),
As the sealing surface, a first sealing surface (22) with which the door (20) abuts when the door (20) closes the first air passage, and the door (20) serves as the second air passage. A second seal surface (23) against which the door (20) abuts when closed,
The elastic member (40, 41, 60) is caused by a force acting on the door (20) from the first seal surface (22) when the door (20) contacts the first seal surface (22). When the door (20) abuts on the second seal surface (23), it is elastically deformed by a force acting on the door (20) from the second seal surface (23). The air passage opening and closing device according to claim 1.   The air passage opening and closing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring (60) that is bent and deformed in a rotation direction of the door (20). The output shaft (21a) has a cylindrical shape,
One of the rotating shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a) is coaxially inserted into the other,
Each of the rotating shaft (20a) and the output shaft (21a) is formed with slits (61, 62) into which the leaf spring (60) is inserted in a direction intersecting the axial direction. The air passage opening and closing device according to claim 3. The rotating shaft (20a) is coaxially inserted into the output shaft (21a),
The slit (62) of the output shaft (21a) sandwiches the leaf spring (60) at a radially outward portion in the radial direction of the output shaft (21a), and the plate at the radially inward portion. The air passage opening and closing device according to claim 4, wherein the slit width is changed so as to be separated from the spring (60).   The elastic member includes a first coil spring (40) whose tightening direction faces one side of the door (20) in the rotation direction, and a second coil spring whose tightening direction faces the other side of the door (20) in the rotation direction. The air passage opening and closing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air passage opening and closing device is (41).   When the door (20) is separated from the sealing surface, the output shafts (21a, 50a) with the first and second coil springs (40, 41) elastically deformed by a predetermined amount in the tightening direction, respectively. And the air passage opening and closing device according to claim 6.   The air passage opening and closing according to claim 7, wherein the first and second coil springs (40, 41) are used only on the tightening side over the entire operating range of the drive mechanism (21, 50). apparatus.

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